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The guild of pig farmers in Panama estimates that due to a drop in the price, the sector could register this year a slight contraction compared to 2017.

Entrepreneurs in the sector explained that, despite the fact that in the first month of 2018 pig slaughter grew by 6% compared to January 2017, this year a slight downward correction is expected with respect to the figures reported last year.

The FAO food price indexstood in February 2018 at an average of 170.8 points, that is to say, 1.1% (or 1.8 points) more than in January, although it is still 2.7% less than its value in the same period last year. Higher international prices for dairy products and cereals contributed to the inter-monthly rise in the value of the index, while prices for sugar and vegetable oils declined and meat prices remained stable.

Representatives of the trade union announced that the country will receive the "insignificant risk" certificate next May, which will allow it to reach new markets and export cuts of bovine meat on the bone.

Local authorities reported that in relation to bovine spongiform encephalopathy disease, better known as "mad cows disease", the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) will grant the country the status of "negligible risk", which is necessary to sell abroad cuts of bovine meat on the bone.

The Agricultural Development Bank has $14 million to use for financing the purchase of livestock and bulls created through artificial insemination, with an interest rate of 2%, a term of 15 years and with collateral.

The Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) reported that the goal of this financing is to repopulate male and female livestocks, and also seeks "... to ensure that livestock acquired through soft loans, by state banks are in excellent reproductive conditions in the case of males and in terms of gestation for females."

The sector is backing new destinations such as the Dominican Republic and Cuba, through a commercial mission that will travel to these countries in search of potential buyers.

According to representatives from the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Nicaragua, the Caribbean country imports from Europe and the US, milk powder, cheese and other dairy products. They explained that the requirements for the entry of products are "technically possible and in sanitary terms are those that are necessary."

Up to September 2017, the number of head of cattle decreased by 2% compared to the same month in 2016, while pigs increased by 3%.

According to figures from the Livestock Survey, prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), as of September 2017 there were 1.5 million cattle, 398 thousand pigs and 25.4 million hens and young chickens.

In Costa Rica, producers of buffalo, rabbit and lamb meat sell their products through restaurants and some supermarkets, in response to growth in consumption which has been noted in recent years.

The sophistication of consumption, hand in hand with a greater diversification in the gastronomic supply at restaurants has been pushing up demand for nontraditional meats, such as rabbit, buffalo and lamb.

In 2017 sales to the Asian country totaled around $124 million, 50% more than that was sold in 2016, and were led by shrimp and sugar exports.

The products that registered the highest demand last year were shrimp, with $46 million, sugar, with $30 million, meat and bovine by-products, with $25 million, coffee with $8 million, lobster with $6 million, and sea cucumber, with $5 million.

Despite the new import requirements imposed by the Salvadoran government, in 2017 the Nicaraguan dairy industry managed to maintain the level of its exports to its neighboring country.

Data from a report by Cetrex shows that 2017 will have closed with growth of just 3% in exports of dairy products to El Salvador, which is positive for entrepreneurs in the sector, who in the middle of the year anticipated less favorable figures, due to the entry into force of themore restrictive import controls.

In order to increase their sales abroad, farmers in the Dominican Republic intend to raise their farm's productivity levels this year.

Representatives of the guild of cattlemen state that farms in the sector that are dedicated to raising animals for production of milk and meat, have comparative advantages for local commercialization of products and also for their exportation.

The union of exporters estimates that between January and November of 2017 they have sold goods and services abroad worth $2.473 billion, 20% more than in the same period in 2016.

According to estimates by the Association of Producers and Exporters of Nicaragua (APEN) during the first 11 months of this year total exports added up to $2.47315 billion, these exceed by 20% the $2.05667 billion recorded in sales abroad in the same period in 2016